Method of shipping cable



May 17, 1932.

Filed June ll, 1931 A O. HOEFTMANN ET AL METHOD oF SHIPPING CABLE 2 Sheets-Shea*b l w ik May 17, 1932- A. o. HOEFTMANN r-:T AL 1,859,141

METHOD OF SHIPPING CABLE Filed June ll, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .IIIIHIIMHIMIIIIMI l yL Hl lllllll W Patented May 17, 1932 UN IT STATES sm/m PS-xmms,...

Main

ALEXANDER o. HOEFTMANN, OWEN A MCAMEE, yAnn JAMES 4J1. nicnnison, oF

VGRCESTER, IVIASSACIETJ'SETTS, ASSIGNORS TO lTHE AMERICAN, STEEL AN METHOD or SHIPPING CABLE j Application filed4 June 11,

Our invention relates to a method and apparatus for loading and shipping submarine cables and the like in railroad cars, one of our objects being to load and ship cables in 4 5' cars in a safe and convenient manner; Another object is to enable the loading and shipping of a long cable in cars which individually have not the carriage capacity to accommodate this cable. A 'further object is to l@ provide, in a railroad car, apparatus for aiding the accomplishment of the above named and other objects. Other further objects may subsequently appear. u

In the drawings: Y

Figure l is a sectional top plan view of a plurality of railroad gondola cars loaded with a submarine cable and ready for shipment, this being done in accordance with our invention. Y

Figure 2 is a crosssectional side view of these cars. i'

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional side view of two adjacent ends of these cars.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional end View of one of these cars.

Having reference to thesedrawings, railroadV gondola cars A are each furnished with a wood lining 2 which covers its floor and side walls, and an elongate round ended straight sided wood` form 3 which is central'- ly positioned in the cars interior and spaced from the lining over its side walls, an elongate substantially annular stowage space extending the cars length being thus provided. Each end of each car is provided with an upstanding standard or support 4 from which a spring 5 is suspended, a cable holding clamp 6 being xed to the free end of this spring.

These gondola cars are all coupled together, and plates 7 are bolted over the pins in their respective couplings to prevent uncoupling while en route. The submarine cable 8 is too long and heavy for carriage by a single car. An end car is, therefore, loaded to its capacity with a part of this cable 8 by laying the same in the stowage space provided in that car in successively ascending elongate coil layers. The cable is passed from the top coil layer of this car to an adcan, this loop beinglleld bythe cable hold- F ing clamps 6 to preventit falling between the car ends.y This` permitsy slight movement of the car ends-during transitwithout causing damage to the cable,V the springs 5 allowing the loop a suiicient degree of flexible movement. The cable is loaded-in substantially a similar manner into successively adjacentcars until it is all loaded, the number of cars necessarilydepending `on the relative length, and weight of the cable. The cars tops are then eachcovered over with boarding 10 to prevent injury to the cable, the lazy loops'of the cable being preferably-wrapped with burlap or thelike as a'protective measure. i Y

If the cable 4is small enough to be carried by a single car a gondola car may be furnished and loaded in the mannerV just described, except that the supports: 4 and their associated elements` are not necessary as each car will comprise'a unitary load. The cars, of course, need not necessarily be inter-coupled in this instance, and even if they are coupling lockingmeans will not be required. l

By usingV our cableA loading and shipping method and apparatus any desired length of cable maybe made complete at the mill making the same as it may be shipped thereby in a single length. Thus the necessity of making joints atthe place the cable is laid is to a great extent eliminated. Better joints or splices are made at the mill and much time is saved. Further, the laborv cost of loading is reduced, and aV high degree of safety is maintained during shipment. Y

`Silthough we have shown and describe specific forms of our invention in accordance with thepatent statutes, we do not intend to limit'the scope of ourA invention D WIE-Effi ranged to provide a substantially annular stowage space, and laying the cable in coils in said spaces.

2. Themethod of loading and shipping a cable in railroad cars, consisting in furnishing the car with a form'constructed and arranged to provide elongate annular stowage spacesextending the cars length, and laying the cable in said spaces in successively ascending horizontal elongatecoil layers;

3. vThe method of loading and shipping a cable in a railroad car, consisting in furnishf ing the car with a lining and form constructed and arranged to provide'an elongate ran-k nular st owage space extending the cars length, laying the cable in said space in ,suc-

las to protect the coiled cable.

cessively ascending elongate coil layers, and fitting a covering over the toprof the car so 4. The method of loading and shipping `a cable of too greata length and Weight for carriage by a single car, consisting in coupling a plurality of cars together, furnishing each car with a form constructed ofthercable by laying successively ascending coil layers of the same in the stoWage space provided in that car, passing the cable in lazy loop fashion from the top coil layer inthe first named car to vthe bottom of an adjacent car and loading this 'car similarly to the first, and continuing to load the cable in Successively adjacent cars'and in substantially the mannerdescribed until all of it is loaded.`

6. The method ofloading and shipping a cable'of too great a length andV Weight for carriage by a single car, consisting in coupling a plurality of cars together, furnishing each car with a formconstructed andarranged to provide va substantially annular stowage space, loading an rend car with a partv of the cable by laying successively ascending coil layers of the samein the stovvage space vprovided in that car, passing the cable in lazy loop fashion from the top coil layer inthe first named car to the bottom of an adjacent car and loading this car similarly to the first, resiliently supporting the ylazy loop in the cable against dropping between the car ends,

and continuing to load the cable in successive- Y ly adjacent cars and substantially in the manner described until all of it is loaded.

7. The method of loading and shipping a cable of too great a length and Weight for carriage by a single car, consisting in coupling a plurality of cars together, locking these cars against uncoupling, furnishing Veach car with a form constructed and arranged to provide a substantially annular stowage space, loading an end car with a part of the cable by laying successively ascending coil layers of the same in the stowage space provided in that car, passing the cable in lazy loop fashion from the top coil layer in the first named car to the bottom of an adjacent car and loading this car similarly to the first, and continuing to load the cable in successively adjacent cars and in substantially the manner described until all of it is loaded. j

8. The method of loading and shipping a cable of too great a length and weight for carriagey by a single car, consisting in coupling a plurality of vcars together, locking these cars against uncoupling,furnishing each car with aform constructed and arranged to provide an elongate annular stowage space extending the cars length, loading an end car with a part of the cable by laying successively ascending elongate coil layers of the same in the stowage space provided in that car, passing the cable in lazy loop fashion from the top coil layer in the first named car to the bottom yof an adjacent car and loading thiscar similarly to the first, resiliently supporting the lazy loop in the cable against dropping betweenv the car ends, continuing to load the cable in successively adjacent cars and substantially in the manner described until all of it is loaded, and fitting covers to the cars to protect the cable.

9. In a railroad gondola car, an upstanding support at each end thereof, resilient cable holding means carried by said supports, and anV elongate round ended form within and spaced away from the walls of said car.

l0. In a railroadk gondola car, an upstanding`V support Vat each end thereof, resilient cable holding means carried by each-of said supports, a lining covering the interior of said car, and an elongate round ended form centrally positioned within vsaid car and spaced awa-y from the lining covering the upstanding walls thereof. a

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.

ALEXANDER O. HOEFTMANN. OWEN A. MoNAMEE. Y JAMES J. MORRISON.

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